Killed drug peddlers/users are ‘ordinary’ folk

DAGUPAN CITY – They could just be the guys next door – carpenters or construction helpers or extras, out of school youth or unemployed adults.

These are the persons involved in drug dealing and using and who “surrendered” to the police in this city after the operation against the illegal activity was stepped up by the police.

Supt. Cris Abrahano however said drug dealing was the “main occupation” of the two suspected drug dealers killed in a buy-bust operation on Monday.

“They have no other sources of income, only from illegal drug trade,” he said.

He said Piggy Cornel, one of the killed persons, earlier signed a “promissory note” which he gave to Bonuan Gueset chair Ricardo Mejia, promising not to engage in the illegal activity anymore.

“The promissory note does not mean the suspects won’t be monitored anymore. As it happened, he was with Opay Catungal who was one of the number drug personality in Malasiqui town, when we conducted the buy bust operation,” Abrahano said.

Eleven drug street peddlers from Pantal village surrendered to Mayor Belen Fernandez and Abrahano on July 1, accompanied by Pantal former captain Felipe Maramba.

Abrahano said those who voluntarily surrender to the authorities have to sign an undertaking that they will forever stop using drugs and being runners of people pushing illegal drugs.

They must also submit themselves voluntarily for drug testing and rehabilitation if found positive and subject to periodic monitoring by the authorities, he said.

“If their intention is to voluntarily surrender to escape or delay prosecution and arrest, we will not give them that luxury and for those who have a pending warrant of arrest before the courts it would be best for them to surrender to avoid a violent arrest,” said Abrahano.

The suspects are reportedly runners of drug dealers and are only forced to do it because of poverty.

“They said they needed a little money especially when they are out of work,” he said.

Abrahano said there are still 471 drug personalities in the police watchlist, with ten of them have wide operations and connections.

The top ten are deemed notorious as they are persistently in the report, and they are not only involved in illegal drugs but other crimes like hold-up and gun-running, he said.

He said according to the surrenderees, the drug supply comes from National Capital Region, Olongapo City and Dasmarinas, Cavite.